Automatic phonograph



Sept. 5, 1950 J. A. DARWIN AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH 17 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 7, 1945 IN VEN TOR. Jbse 21 A. Darwin A T TOR/V575 J. A. DARWIN 2,521,046

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH l7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 5, 1950 Filed Dec. 7, 1945 AM 5 5 m w KW wopo/ wm m N Jose 1911 A. Darwin BY 14 7 7 0R/VEXS Sept. 5, 1950 J. A. DARWIN AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH 17 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. '7, 1945 INVENTOR.

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AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Dec. '7, 1945 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

Sept. 5, 1950 J. A. DARWIN AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 7, 1945 mom/ mom u mom com ME P 1950 J. A. DARWIN 2,521,046

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Fi led Dec. '1, 1945 17 Sheets-Sheet 'r r x c 283 5 287 227 28 i' 289 123 282 290 17-80 +19 El 2842 A 29! E Q INVENTOR. ($891912 A P31219112 I. I 28 BY A TTOR/VfYS Sept. 5, 1950 AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH l7 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Dec. '7, 1945 l88 25 192' 19: ee 247 24a 93; 358 248 250 25: /244 g @3 24? -49 257 x252 k I 348.

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AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Dec. '7, 1945 17 Sheets-Sheei 1i p 5, 1950 J. A. DARWIN 2,521,046

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Dec. 7, 1945 17 Sheets-Sheet 12 INVENTOR. JosqplzA flzrwin A T7'0RNEKS p 5@ .u. A. DARWHN 2,23 4% AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Dec. 7, 1945 1'? Sheets-Sheet 15 IN V EN TOR. a @s hA Dwm Sept 5 119% J. A. DARWEN fi fl AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Dec. 7, 1945 '17 Sheets-Sheet l6 I INVENTOR.

A.Daz"wim Sept. 5, 1950 J. A. DARWIN 2,521,046

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Dec. '1, 1945 17 Sheets- 7 vmw 0Q wwm mm INVENTOR. (7088191111. Dan 1171.21

A Tram 75 k mm Patented Sept. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE 13 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic phonographs of the type comprising, essentially, store ing means for disc records, and record playing means of which one is movable relative to the other for record selection, and has as a main object to provide a highly versatile machine and one which is yet of relatively simple construction so as to be economical in manufacture and reliable in use.

Inasmuch as the machine may be designed for the storage of a large number of records, .the storing means is preferably stationary and the playing means, which is relatively small, is constituted as a carriage reciprocable along the records for the selection thereof. In the embodiment which will be described herein the records are stored closely in horizontal face to face relation on individual trays and are mutually supported in a manner to prevent warping. In automatic playing the carriage is stepped into selecting relation, in either direction, with successive records throughout the stack, removing each record and playing one face or both faces thereof, and then returning the record to storage. In automatic selective playing, the carriage will automatically play either or both faces of any series of selected records regardless of their position in the stack. The order in which the records are played depends in any case on the direction in which the carriage happens to be traveling, this direction being controllable in order to obtain a desired sequence. The playing mechanism automatically sets itself in any case, in accordance with the size of the record to be played. Means are also provided for repeating the playing of any record when desired.

A practical embodiment of the new machine is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of the machine, partly broken away,

Figure 2 is an isometric view of the machine with the carriage, or playing mechanism, removed, I

Figure 2a is an elevation of the carriage,

Figure 3 is a plan view of a record supporting tray set for a 10 inch record,

Figure 4 shows the tray of Figure 3 set for a 12 inch record,

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view on an enlarged scale of a record positioning abutment such as Figure 8 is a horizontal section through the stack showing record trays in stored and removed relation,

Figure 9 is a, partial front elevation of the record storing means in substantially full size,

Figure 10 is a vertical section through a gear box which appears in Figures 1 and 2 on a. smaller scale,

Figure 11 is a section on line ll-ll of Figure 10,

Fi ure 12 is a plan View of tray transfer means formin a part of the carriage,

Figure 13 is a section substantially on line i 3-4 3 of Figure 12,

Figure 14 is a section substantially on line M-M of Figure 13,

Figure 15 is a section substantially on line l5l5 of Figure 12,

Figure 16 is a section. substantially on line lS-IG of Figure 12,

Figure 17 is a plan view of the carriage and a record tray which has been transferred thereto,

Figure 17a shows a detail in elevation,

Figure 18 is a section on line l8l8 of Figure Figure 19 is a section on line l9l9 of Figure 18,

Figure 20 is a plan View of a tone arm, forming a part of the carriage, together with adjusting means set for a 10 inch record,

Figure 21 shows the parts of Figure 20 set for a-l2 inch record,

Figure 22 is a bottom plan View of the carriage,

Figure 23 is a section on line 23-23 of Figure 22, righted,

Figure 24 is a partial view like that of Figure 23 showing a different relation of parts,

Figure 25 is a section on line 25-25 of Figure 23,

Figure 26 is a section substantially on line 26-26 of Figure 22, righted, showing certain contacts and operating wheels therefor,

Figure 27 shows the elements of Figure 26 as seen from the opposite side,

Figure 28 is a view substantially on line 28-48 of Figure 22, righted, with parts in advance of the section in phantom,

Figure 29 is a view like that of Figure 28 with a different relation of parts,

Figures 30 and 31 show details in connection with Figures 28 and 29,

Figure 32 is a section substantially on line 3'2-32 of Figure 22, righted,

' Figure 33 shows the parts of Figure 32 in a different relation,

Figure 34 shows elements of Figures 32 and 3 in a still different relation,

Figure 35 is a section substantially on line 35-45 of Figure 22, righted,

Figure 36 is a section substantially on line 3636 of Figure 35,

Figures 37 to 39 show difierent relationships of tone arm latch means which appear. in .Fi 35, Figure38 being ,a-ssection zonxlinetkfit of Figure 35,

Figure 40 is a partial view like that of Figure 23 showing parts in different relation,

Figure 41 is a section substantially on dine 4 I 4l of Figure 22, righted,

Figure 42 is a section substantially 4242 of Figure 22, righted,

Figure 43 is a view like that of Figure 14 showing a different arrangement of parts,

.Figure fiisasection'online 44-44 of Figure f Figure 45'is a section'on line 45-45 of Figure 43,

"Figure :46 shows a detailin elevation,

Figure 47 is a view of thermechaniszn of Figure :22 .as seen 'from the'right-o'f that figure, right side p,

Figures ,48 and 49gshow the parts of Figured? iii-differexit/relations,

Figure 50 is a section on line Elk-S of Figure Figure 51 is an end-view-of "a =-'recordturning fork 'whichappears in *Fi-gure 1,

Figure 51a is a section on line 51 a--"5'=l-u of Figure-51,

Figures 52 and 53 show, indifferent relationships, record s'izing mechanism associated with the turning fork,

Figure .54 an elevation, :partly broken away and partly in vertical section-ofrecord-"selecting means,

-' Figure 55 is a section substantially on line 55-45 ofFigure 54,

Figure 56 is-.a view or the mechanism of Figure 54 as seen from the right of the latter figure, and

:Figures F57 and 553 are mixing -.diagrams.

In Figures 1 and 2 the frame of the machine shown as :including lower and .upper parallel "memberslii andiiii joined'rbyz-spaced'vertical bars 11 and 18 which ;are :ioolted rto :member 116. fi-Frame members 1-9 :and $811 project-laterally of member 75 at the base of bars 1T! and 318 and :support uprightsbars di l 'and28'2 qppositebars ll rand 18,, respectively, xthe -xuprights being ;-at the corners of a rectangle. The upper ends of bars s18! and-82 are bolted to horizontal bars 833% and 85. Referring also .iFigure 9, :a 1 multiplicity -:of :horizontal channels 8.5 have their 'backssecured to uprights 8! and 82 and their legs in contact with-andsecured .to each :other so thatamultiplicity of thin 1 but .rigid supporting ledges is provided. Similar -=channelsi3L .Figure 2, are similarly .-.associat ed with uprights 11"! and :18, "the channels of each series being-directly fipposed to *those of theothersseriessovthata multiplicity of ehorizontal tracks ,is provided, each track comprising a channel 86 and a channeLB'i .forithere- :neptionof a record carryin tray 88.

Referring to Figure 3, -each-tray-.88 comprises v.side ,members :89 Land .90 having parallel outer edges and an end connecting .member..9.l,, these members conveniently .die. cast to provide .an integral substantially .lJ-shaped frame. here shown, the inner .top,p.ortions .of the-side members are relieved at 92 and '93 to provide top recesses'having a depth slightly greater than the on line thickness of a record. Outwardly the recesses are bounded by arcuate walls 94 and s5 struck from a center X on a radius slightly greater than 6 inches, this same curvature being carried across the inner edge 9| of the cross portion 9!. As shown in Figure 9 the side members 89 and are received in the channel tracks with close sliding lateral .=.cle,arance, the bottoms, inwardly of the ledges, being downward-1y offset as at 9B slightly less than the thickness of the ledges.

iThe side members are relieved on top to provide .aligned rectilinear grooves and rabbets 96, 91, andSBAlfl of the same depth as the relieved portions 9.2 .and 93 and intersecting the arcuate lateral bounding walls of the latter. The roove "96 and rah-bet 91 have aligned bottom slots I00 andlill and groove 98 and rabbet 99 have aligned bottom slots Hi2 and "i3. As particularly shown in..conne ction with slot m2, eachslot has longitudinally spaced lateral rectangular enlargemerits I04 and I135. ",Slidable in groove .98 is a block Hi6 to jfhe bottom of which is fixed a longitudinally extending ,spring tongue it! "whose thickness .is the .sameas the depth of the slot [82, .-.the tonguehavinga shank portion-receivable in theslot anda cross head portion I 98 receivable in one or the other of the enlargements Hi4 and 1.95, the head normally lying against the head of the block, in one .of the enlargements, and so ,locking'the blockin one .ofitwo positions. Reference numeral 110.9 designates -a plate secured against. the shank. portion .of the tongue an.d,hav- ,ing marginal portions underlyin .the margins .of slot .182 .so as to .hold the Eblock against upward displacement. The tongue hasan upturned extension llii by meansof which ,the head portion 1.08 can be depressed to permit adjustment .of .theblock, as particularly shown in Figure 7, the top of .the extension normally lying below the toposurfaoe of the block as .shown in Figured.

When head portion m8 is .eng-agedin -enlarge- .ment 1.05, .as in Figure 3, the inneroblique .cor- ,ner IH of theblocknis tangent to .a circle whose center is atXand whose radius is veryslightly greater than 5 inches, .and withthe three other block M2, 1 I3. and LM similarly adjusted, a .10 inchrecor-dwill be supported at its opposite edges by the side-members ,89 and with its center at the record :bein indicated at RH], Figure With the blocksset .in :theirother position,

-.-they will accurately reenter the 12 inch record indicated at R12, Figure .4. In either case the -record is maintainedagainst radial displacement but with freedom-of .upward displacement and with a central bottom. area exposed.

Theseveral trays 8B are loaded with records R and then inserted in the channel guides from the front, Figure 2, suitable stops being provided so that the fully inserted trays will he in vertical register with therecord holes in verticalalign- .ment, The recordsare inserted past a fiat universal bar H5 pivoted on a vertical axis between bottom :frame member :Slland alcracket I IS-pro- ,jectin from .top frame member .85, the 'bar being biased by a spring .ll-l and normally en- .gaging in front of aniabutment pin H8 at the outer forward end of each tray side member v9!],

.as particularly shown inFigures 8 and 12. In

solenoid extend between top and bottom brackets I2I and I2I projectin rearwardly of frame members 84 and 19 and strung on these rods are a number of somewhat yielding sheets or pads I22 which project forwardly in spaced relation to the side members of the trays, one between each pair of adjacent record faces. The sheets I22 have a core of stifi material such as fiber board and somewhat compressible facings of cloth or the like. The sheet I22 beneath the lowermost record, Figure 9, is supported on a solid cross plate I22 extended between the frame uprights, The thickness of the cushion sheets is such that each has contact with adjacent record faces so that the records are mutually supported from top to bottom and so are maintained against warping. The trays provide edge support for the records while the sheets afford central support therefor.

The forward end of each tray arm 89 is re-' cessed to provide an outer longitudinal tongue I23 whose inner margin is recessed to provide a recess I24 having laterally extending edges I25 and I25. With the trays in storage, all of the recesses I24 are in vertical register. For a purpose which will later be described, each positionin block I14 is provided at its inner forward end with a lug I26.

In Figure 2 reference numeral I21 designates an electric motor which, through a shaft I23,

drives into a gear box I29 disposed on frame.

member 15 forwardly of the storage means. Within the gear box, see also Figure 10, shalt I28' has fixed thereon a worm I29 driving a worm wheel I35 fixed on a vertical shaft I3I journalled in the top and bottom walls of the box and having a thrust bearing I32. Shaft I3I has a. longitudinally extending groove I33 and its upper end is journalled in the top frame member 16. When motor I21 is running, shaft I3! is driven at the normal playing speed of a record.

Journalled in box I29 in parallel relation with shaft I28 and to one side of shaft I3I is a shaft I34 on which is fixed a spiral gear I35 which is engaged by a spiral gear I36 fixed on shaft I3I. Fixed on the right-hand end of shaft I34 is a collar I31 provided with an axially extending square walled notch i333, Figure 11. Freely rotatable on shaft I34 beyond collar I31 is a disc I39 on which is pivoted a bell crank lever I42 by means of a screw I4I. One arm I42 of the lever is provided with a nose I43 engageable in notch I36 and pulled toward engaging relation by a tension spring I44, and the other arm I45 of the lever is adapted to be engaged by a stop rod I46 slidable in the gear box parallel to shaft I 34 and engageable in a peripheral notch I41 of disc I39. The rod is urged toward the disc by a compression spring I46 and at its end remote from the disc is secured to the armature of a I49 mounted in connection with box I29.- The disc 539 has coaxially fixed thereto a bevelled gear I56 meshing with a pair of bevelled gears I5! and I52 free on a vertical shaft I53 journalled in the top and bottom walls of the box, the shaft being threaded above the upper bearing and having its upper end journalled in frame member 16, Figure 2. Gears I5! and I52 are provided with opposed clutch teeth alternatively engageable by the mating teeth of a clutch member I54 splined on shaft I53 between the gears and engaged by a shipper fork I55 fixed on a rod I56 slidably guided in the top wall of the box and at its upper end in a bore in frame mern ber 16. Rod I56 has adjustably fixed thereon top and bottom stop collars I51 and I58. A compres- 6 sion spring I59 surrounds the rod below stop I51 and is secured to the latter and to an abutment collar I69 which is slidable on the rod. A compression spring I6I rests on stop I58 and supports a slidable abutment collar I62. The upper projecting end of rod I56 is engaged by a manually operable shipper I63 pivoted on frame member 16.

In Figures 16 and 11 the stop rod M6 is shown as engaged in notch I41 of disc I39 and holding lug I43 free of the notch I38 of collar I3? which rotates continuously when motor I21 is operated. If solenoid I49 is energized, rod I46 is retracted so as to free notch I41 and also arm I 45 of the bell crank lever. Spring I44 pulls arm I42 inwardly so that when notch I38 comes around, it will engage nose I43. The solenoid having been but momentarily operated, spring I48 returns rod I46 so that at the end of one revolution of disc I39, lever arm I45 will strike the rod to disengage nose I43 and the rod will again enter notch I41. The described clutch mechanism is merely illustrative of any clutch means which may be used to impart an equal drive at each engagement.

If during the revolution of disc I39, clutch element I54 were engaged with gear I 52, a single revolution would be imparted to the latter and to shaft I53 with an up-threading effect. If member I54 had been engaged with gear I5I, shaft I53 would have been driven through one revolu tion with a down-threading effect. As will be later explained, shaft I53 is engaged with the carriage to reciprocate the same, and the pitch of the shaft thread is such that upon each revolution of the shaft, the carriage will be moved in one direction or the other a distance equal to the distance between the central horizontal radial planes of adjacent records in the storage means. Abutment of a carriage part with abutment I60 will compress spring I59 and rod I56 will be snapped upwardly to disengage element I54 from element I52 and engage it with element I5! for down-threading effect. Similarly, abutment of a carriage part with abutment I62 will snap member I54 from member I5I to member I52 for upthreading effect. Lever I63 can be operated at any time to reverse the drive, merely swinging freely when the drive is automatically reversed through the stops.

A pair of round rods I64 and I65 have their lower ends fixed to frame member 15 and their upper ends bolted to member 16, the rods extending vertically and being spaced longitudinally of member 15 and disposed at opposite ends of the gear box I29 for guiding the playing means or carriage C. Being at one side of the paths of travel of the trays, the rods offer no obstruction to the removal of the trays for charging.

The carriage C is shown in elevation in Figures 1 and 2a, in top plan view in Figure 17, and in bottom plan view in Figure 22. It comprises a horizontal base plate IE6 to the righthand rectilinear edge of which, Figure 1, is secured a vertical plate or wall I61 which projects above and below plate I66 and at its right-hand end, Figure 2a, is widened upwardly at I68. Secured between the outer face of the widened portion I68 and a spaced vertical plate I69 on bolts I!!! are a plurality of rollers HI and I 12 arranged in two vertical series spaced apart the diameter of rod I65 which is received between the two series. Arranged parallel to plate I61 beneath plate I66 and secured to the latter is a plate I13 which has an upwardly projecting portion I14 passing through a cut-out I15, Figures 17 and 22, in plate 

